Course Faculty
Purpose: This pathway aims to cultivate the next generation of community health leaders by engaging medical students in both the operational and social dimensions of healthcare for underserved populations. Through active participation in the UF EAC clinic management and community health initiatives, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by community health systems, including resource limitations, patient access issues, and the broader impact of social determinants of health. The pathway empowers students to lead in optimizing clinic operations and strengthening partnerships with local organizations, ultimately enhancing healthcare delivery and access within Alachua County.
Students will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with clinic leadership, community organizations such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Family Services, St. Francis House, Pleasant Street Civil Rights and Cultural Arts Center (among others), Howard Bishop Middle School, Mobile Outreach Clinic and the Alachua Department of Health’s Community Health Worker program. By working with these varied organization, students will gain firsthand experience in promoting continuity of care, community outreach, and developing quality improvement projects and promoting sustainable solutions to operational and community health challenges.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop leadership skills in community health through active roles in clinic and community outreach through the Equal Access Clinic locations: UF Family Main Street, Bartley Temple, UF Eastside Clinic and Latino-Seventh Day Church.
- Understand and analyze the impact of social determinants of health on patient access and healthcare delivery, applying this knowledge to clinic operations.
- Implement strategies for operational sustainability that prioritize seamless leadership transitions and improve patient care access.
- Engage with community stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, enhance resource utilization, and drive initiatives that address health equity.
Curriculum:
1. Principles of Leadership
– AMA online 4 part series on medical student leadership
Website: AMA Medical Student Leadership
Topics: Choose 2 out of 4
PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP
Managing Stress While Leveraging Your Unique Experiences
2. Leadership in Healthcare & Community Engagement -students would attend virtually or in person ONE of the Alachua DOH strategic planning meeting for Community Health workers ( held monthly) and discuss/ reflect on their experience.
3. What is a “Servant Leader”?
Students read a chapter for President Kennedy’s book: “Profiles in Courage”
They write a short reflection.
Activities: Students will participate in a range of leadership-building activities focused on community health and operational excellence, including:
- Operational Leadership Shadowing: Shadow clinic and community health leaders to gain insights into strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and patient flow management.
- EMR Transition or ER Diversion Data Project: Participate in key quality improvement projects such as transitioning the EAC clinics to Epic EMR or contributing to the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics ER Diversion Data Project, aimed at addressing resource management and enhancing patient care.
- Community Partnership Engagement: Collaborate with organizations like liked those mentioned above among others to build a stronger community health network.
- Role of Community Health Worker: Learn about the role and impact of community health workers through the Alachua Department of Health program and explore ways to incorporate these roles into clinic operations.
- Community Health Initiatives: Take part in EAC-sponsored events, including health fairs and food as medicine workshops, to better understand and address the health needs of the underserved population.
Award of Distinction: To earn the Award of Distinction in Medical Student Leadership in Community Health, students must meet the following criteria:
Core requirements:
- Complete two leadership shadowing sessions across different EAC locations and attend at least six team meetings with clinic and community partners.
- Actively participate in at least one quality improvement project listed below.
- Present project findings at a scientific conference or community forum.
Other requirements- Choose one of two options below:
- Contribute to the development of a Digital Leadership Workbook to guide future student leaders in managing clinic operations.
- Document participation and outcomes in at least two community outreach events.
Quality Improvement Project Options:
- EMR Transition Project: Lead a project to transition to Epic EMR, including assessing current workflows and creating sustainability strategies.
- ER Diversion Data Project: Analyze data from the FACC platform and present findings to drive community health interventions.
- Digital Leadership Workbook: Develop a manual capturing operational and leadership insights for future EAC student leaders.
- Grant Application: Collaborate with EAC members to apply for funding aimed at improving patient care and addressing health disparities.
Projects may be completed individually or in teams, with guidance from faculty and community mentors to ensure alignment with community health leadership objectives.
Assessment:
- Active participation in operational shadowing, team meetings, and leadership activities.
- Quality and impact of contributions to quality improvement projects.
- Reflective writing on leadership development and community health insights.
- Engagement in and contribution to community health outreach efforts.